pH-responsive hydrogels of carboxymethyl cellulose and polyethyleneimine for efficient removal of ionic dye molecules

A carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) hybrid hydrogel was successfully prepared under green processing conditions. The CMC and PEI formed a polyelectrolyte complex, the three-dimensional (3D) network structure hardened by chemical crosslinking, resulting in suitable properties. In CMC/PEI hydrogel, surface charge easily switched according to pH change, swelling contraction reversible. sensitivity of effective removing ionic dye contaminants, as result, it showed an excellent removal capacity 319 mg/g for anionic acid orange (AO) 129 cationic methylene blue (MB). addition, maintained structural stability despite repeated changes characteristics shrinkage-swelling due conversion. As reuse process through adsorption desorption, efficiency more than 93% even after 10 cycles.